MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Drivers could get hit with a tax hike in Tennessee.
Governor Bill Haslam has planned a road show to talk about the possible increase.
Haslam said increasing the gas tax would improve roads, but not everyone was on board with the idea.
“It just feels like it’s getting pushed down to the hardworking people of Tennessee,” said driver Eric Fleming.
Fleming, who told WREG he travels back and forth to Memphis from Missouri, said an increase in Tennessee’s gas tax would hurt his bottom line.
“My company’s a manufacturer of packaging so when my company is affected by gas, the price of my product goes up which means it goes up for my customers; all the small companies I do business with here,” he said.
Despite the critics, Governor Haslam said transportation projects are lacking funding.
He planned to make that message clear during his statewide tour this summer where he’ll talk about roads and how to maintain them.
“I think that would be unfair to increase the gas tax,” said driver Larry Harris.
The state hasn’t had an increase in its gas tax in 25 years, but drivers said that didn’t make a difference because they suffered regardless.
“It’s extremely frustrating. It’s hard enough to keep jobs as it is, and if he does that, that makes the costs of goods and services go up as well,” he said.
Haslam said he planned to start his tour in late summer or early fall.